Audible road signal



Nov. 3, 1936. E. J. MORIN l 2,059,958

AUDIBLE ROAD SIGNAL Filed Deo. 2, 1935 Fig. 1. i

Snnentor EJMOri. Bg Mw.

Lttorneg adaptedto be embedded transversely of a roadl aninclination with respect thereto and Patented Nov.

It is an object of PATENT OFFICE ADIBLE'ROAD SIGNAL Edward M01-in, omaha, New. Application December 2, 1935, Serial No. 52,550

z claims. (c1. 11s-s1) This invention relates to signals andmore particularly to an audible road signal particularly adapted for use in connection with roadway. highway and railway crossings.

the invention to provide an audible signal which is certain of operation and of few and simple parts requiring no particular attention, adjustment or repair during use which can be installed an d operate with certainty in comparatively remote and isolated situations Vfor warning vehicular traillc of approach thereof to tion.

the invention the proximity and a said crossingy or intersec- With the foregoing and other vobjects in view,

will be more fully described hereinafter and more particularly pointed out in the i, .claims appended hereto. 4

In the drawing whereinlike symbols refer to Figure-1 is a top g parts throughout the sevplan view of a portion of a warning signal embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 isa transverse section of a cover employed taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the cover 'taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse section of the -cover and certain adjunct being taken on line 4-4 of vFigure l.`

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cover and certain parts shown in Figure 1, taken on, line 5-5 of said figure.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic top plan Aview of a railway and highway crossing or intersection of a roadway and road and illustrating the present invention combined therewith. Referring now to the drawing ticular description, I

way or at below the surface for a more parindicates an elongated box thereof. The box may be Open 01' Closed bottom and end walls as may be desired. For comparatively wide roads three or more of the boxesmay be employed of assorted lengths in order to span and fit such road such boxes or supports being disposed end to yms end.

formed of cast I3 which are adapte the sidewalls II thereto by means o The box is provided with a cover :or memberi2 iron having ,step-cut side edges d to abut the upper edges of and. to be removably secured f screws Il or any suitable parts employed, the view keepers. For certain types of installations the said box or boxes may bedispensed with.

The cover has a plurality of apertures I5, extending inalignment with respect to each other longitudinally of the cover. Transversely-disposed webs I6 are formed integral with the cover providing the spaced apart apertures I5.

A plurality of gongs are loosely supported within the box I0 preferably upon studs I1 secured y to the cover at the underneath side thereof. The 10 gongs I8 are provided with apertures I9 of larger diameter than the studs -I1 whereby the gongs are free to have vertical movements on said studs and to also create a penetrating and compara- -tively loudl tone when struck. The vgongs are disposed in alignment withrespect to eachother and usually entirely at one side of the said apertures for purposes later explained..

A shaft 2li is preferably positioned longitudinally of the boxextending across 'each of the 20 apertures and asbest shown in Figure 3 is secured to the web by means of cleats 2|, the lat.- ter being removably secured to the webs I6 by means of suitable keepers such as the screws 22 and it will be understood that as thus described .25 the shaft is free to have journalled movements in the bearings thus provided, said bearings aifording a very loose ilt preferably.

Clappers 23 Nare provided for-the gongs. and, as best shown in Figure 4, the clappers arepivotally mounted for swinging movements on said' shaft, said mounting preferably providing a loose t between the shaft and clapper whereby the clapper is adapted to swing transversely of the shaft ln either direction.

- Each'clapper vis provided with an arm 24 which normally projects above the' outer surface of the cover. The arms 24 are preferably formed integral with the Clappers but mayconsist, if `desired, of a yleldable substance such as .rubber se- 40 cured to the Clappers by any suitable means. The upper ends of the arms are preferably arcuate in cross section as indicated at 25 when formed of metal. The clappers' are of greater weight than the arms for returning the latter` to a normal vertical position as shown in Figures 1 and 'f 4 after a swinging movement.v Atmtimes when an l arm swings it may become positioned within the plane of the cover, recesses 26 being provided for said purpose at each side of the apertures I5,

` Particularly referring to Figure 6, 21 indicates a railroad track and 28 a highway crossing thereof. Oneeach of the' sai boxes I0 together with theforegoing described parts are positioned at each side of the roadway 21 and embedded in the 55 paratively minute and preferably not greater than the width of a buggy wheel for insuring that the wheel of said type of vehicle will strike at least one of said arms 24 while traveling over the road toward the roadway crossing or intersection.

In operation a vehicle approaching the crossing -in the direction of the arrow 29 will actuate at least one arm 24 for ringing a gong and audibly informing the driver of the vehicle that he is approaching a dangerous crossing, said actuation being resultant from the tire or wheel of the vehicle striking said arm and swinging a clapper against a gong. A

Referring to Figure 6, A indicates\a box l or d installation and warning mechanism which is like the box B and mechanism at the other side of the roadway crossing except that the gongs in the box A are all disposed on that side of the box A opposite to the direction of travel as indicated by the arrow 29; whereas it will 'be understood that the gongs in the box indicated at B are onA Athe opposite side of the said box with respect to the gongs in the box A, said gongs in both boxes are disposed further fromv the roadway 21 than are the clappers for said gongs. It will be understood that the boxes are alike in construction and that the said positioning of said gongs may be consummated by turning. one of the boxes end for end during ansinstallation thereof whereby in operation the vehicle approaching the crossing and traveling in the direction of the arrow 29 will ring the gongs or a gong 'in the box A and when said vehicle has crossed the roadway 21 and during a continuation of travel in'the direction of the arrow 29 and while traveling over the box B no gongs will sound loudly from the latter sincek while the clapper of the box B will be caused to swing, yet said clapper does not strike against a gong, the latterbeing positioned on that side of a clapper from which the vehicle approaches tlieboxB. f3.

Conversely, a vehicle approaching the roadway f 21 in a direction reverse to the arrow 29 will sound the warning gongs inV` the lbox B, to the exclusion of the gongs in the box A., By the said means a driver of a traveling vehicle will be warned that he is approaching the railway and that said railway or intersection is still ahead of him at the time he receives said warning.

The rear of the vehicle will cause a repetition of the warning signal and if desired the invention may be installed inclinedly across a 'roadway whereby one' front wheel of a vehicle actuates the mechanism, the second front wheel to strike an arm causes a succeeding warning sound to be generated, the rear wheels causing two more successive signals.

It is obvious that various changes and modications may be made-in the details of construction and design of the above specically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modications being restricted only by the scope of the invention as herein claimed.

What is claimed is:-

1. An audible signal for road crossings comprising an elongated box adapted to be embedded transversely of a roadway below the surface thereof, a cover for the box having a plurality of apertures, a'plurality of gongs loosely supported Within said box at one side of said apertures, a shaft extending longitudinally of the box and across said apertures, swingable clappers for the gongs pivotally mounted on said shaft, said clappers each having an arm normally projecting above the outer surface of said cover, said clappers being of greater weight than said arms for returning said arms to a normal vertical position.

2. In combination, a road disposed at an intersecting angle with respect to a roadway,

a audible signals disposed at opposite sides of said roadway,each signal comprising an elongated member having a plurality oi apertures disposed across` said road in substantial horizontal alignment with the surface thereof, a plurality vof gongs under each said member, a plurality of clappers for the gongs under each said member, said clappers adapted to be swung for striking and sounding the gongs, and arms associated with the clappers and extending through said.aper tures, said clappers being of greater weight than said arms for returningthe latter to a normal vertical position, the gongs of each said signal being disposed further from said roadway than the clappers thereof.

EDWARD J. MORIN. 

